Dialysis Patient's Cross-Country Ride

Despite medical hurdles, Shad Ireland biked across the country.

Shad Ireland's Inspiring Journey

On May 1, 2009, Shad Ireland, a 36-year-old dialysis patient, embarked on a challenge to ride his bicycle nearly 5,000 miles across the country, from Santa Monica, Calif., to Washington, D.C. Along the way, Ireland appeared at community events in major cities focused on education about and prevention of kidney failure. (Courtesy Shad Ireland )